An All Elite Wrestling (AEW) personality, RJ City, has publicly shared pointed Royal Rumble criticism by AEW, describing the current format as “exhausting” and pushing for a fresh direction, particularly regarding women’s participation. During a recent interview, City explained why he believes the established format fails to make full use of women’s wrestling in a way that truly stands out.
RJ City Challenges the Royal Rumble Structure
The Royal Rumble is known for its massive thirty-participant setup, with stars entering the ring at timed intervals and being eliminated if thrown over the top rope. While this iconic match has thrilled fans for decades, introducing a women’s edition in recent years, City voiced concerns over giving both divisions the same format.
During an interview on Black Girl Wrestling, RJ City expressed that repeating the same match structure for women as for men does not do justice to the division’s talents. He underscored that staging two of these lengthy matches on a single card has become overwhelming for viewers and wrestlers alike.
“I also feel like the women are so strong this year that the answer is to not just give them their own version of the same s**t the men already have because like there’s now a show with two f*****g Royal Rumbles in it and it’s like exhausting.”
– RJ City, AEW Personality
Advocating for Innovation in Women’s Wrestling
Rather than copying the men’s Royal Rumble, City argued that the women’s roster deserves its own unique showcase. Citing standout talents like Willow and Toni Storm, he suggested that developing exclusive match types would be a more meaningful way to highlight the division’s exceptional abilities and set them apart within the industry.
“I think it’s important to push them in territories that the men aren’t in and give them their own stuff and I think about Willow, and I think about Toni Storm and I’m going ‘Geeez, they do s**t that the men just can’t.’ so I think it’s more important to head into that direction.”
[H/T ITRWrestling] – RJ City, AEW Personality
RJ City’s AEW Role Following “Hey! (Ew)”
Questions about RJ City’s future in AEW arose after his popular web series, “Hey! (Ew),” concluded recently. Speculation about his contract was addressed by Fightful Select, which reported his AEW agreement remains secure and that ending the show was a personal decision. City has since shifted his attention to other creative positions within the company.
Currently, RJ City continues to appear on AEW programming, most notably as co-host alongside Renee Paquette for the Zero Hour pre-show at pay-per-view events. His focus has broadened to behind-the-scenes roles, signaling ongoing involvement with AEW even after his show’s end.
Outlook: Shaping the Future of Wrestling Entertainment
RJ City’s Royal Rumble criticism by AEW adds intensity to ongoing discussions about women’s roles in wrestling. By challenging tradition and calling for innovative match concepts, City’s remarks may motivate organizations like AEW and WWE to reconsider how they structure marquee matches and spotlight female talent. If these ideas are adopted, fans could see more creative and exclusive contests, offering new excitement in the wrestling world.
